Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-05-21
THOSE INDEMNITY LANDS.
IMPORTANT ACTION THEREON APP
PROVED BY THE PRESIDENT.

Their Withdrawal in the Gases of a Large
Number of Railways to BE Revoked and
the Land Offered to settlers
Lamar's Letter In Full-SOme Interesting
Statistics on the National Cash.
WASHINGTON CITY, May 2l-Secretary of
the Interior Lamar has addressed the follow
ing letter to the president, by whom it has
been approved. 1t is dated May 2l
SIR: 1t appears from the records of the general
land office that large number Of land grant rail
road companies have made indemnity selections
TO the full extent Of their rights under the re
spectve grants, and that a number of others,
while they have not selected the full quantity,
have selected all the bands within the indemnity
limits of such grants which are subject TO Sc
lection Those which have selected the full guam
titv as shown by the records of this department,
the Illinois Central, in the state of Illinois;
the Mobile & Ohio River in the state of Alabama;
the Pensacola x Atlantic and the Pensacola T.
Georgia in the stlte of Florida; the Cedar Rapids
& Missouri River and the Dubuque & Mississippi,
in the state Of Iowa; the Sioux City & st Paul, IN
the stare OF Iowa. the Marquette, HoughtOn &
Ontonagun far that road has been con
strueted and the Wisconsin Farm Mortgage, in the
state of Wisconsin; the st Paul & Sioux City and
the Winona & ST. Peter in the state Of Minnesota;
the St Paul. Minneapolis & Manitoba main line, IN
the state of Minnesota; the Mississippi Kansas &
Texas, in the state Of Kansas; the Northern Pa
cific in Dakota; the Northern Pacific main line, IN
Washington Territory. and the Coos Bay Wagon
road, in the state Of Oregon,
Those which have been selected so far there
lands subject to selection, are the Alabama Il
Chattanooga the Alabama & Florida and the
Sputh 4 North Alabama in he state of Alabama
the Mobile & Ohio River and the Vicksburg & Me
ridian in the state of Mississippi: the Florida &
Alabama and the Florida Atlantic & Gulf Central,
in the state of Florida; the NickShurg, Shreveport
& Texas and tue New Orleans & Pacific. in the
state of Louisiana; the Burlington & Missouri
River. the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific and the
| Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul in the state
of Iowa, the Grand Rapids & Indiana the
Jackson Lansing & Saginaw. the Flint &
Pere Marquette and the Chicago Northwestern i'll
the state of Michigan. the Chicago & Northwest
| eru and the Chicago, st. Faul & Omaha in the
state Of Wisconsin. the Minnesota Central thu
Southern Minnesota the HaStingS & Dakota the
Lake Superior s Mississippi the Br;urrd branch
| Of the St Paul Minneapolis 4 Manitoba and the
st Vincent extension in the state of Minnesota
the st. Joseph Il Denver City i'll the state Of Kan
Sas; the Northern Pacific in tho state OF Mime
sofa
An accompanying table shows the date of with
drawal and the date of definite location time
when the right If selection accrued for these sew
eTal roads
These withdrawals. as shown by this table have
| been running and continued in operation for more
| than two years in the case Of the Ainsworth &
Swank Greek railroad to nearly thirty seven years
| in that OF the Mobile & Ohio Under the rulings
of the department no settler can acquire any
| rights under any of the general land laws TO any
part of the public domain long as the same
remains withdrawn by order of the president or
| by his authority There seems now 10 he valid
reason why these orders of withdrawal should not
| be revoked. DISTINCTIONS in the way of bona fide
settlement Of the pubic domain should be re-
| moved as speedily is possible after the reasons
| which created Them have ceased TO exist Relipv-
ing that these railroad companies have had ample
time to assert any rights they may have in regard
| to the indemuit, +" which they NAV he entitled
| and that unnecessary hardship nov
| result to them hy restoring these bands to the
public domain for the benefit Of settlers it is nv
| purpose, if it meets your approval. TO take all
| necessary steps booking to the accomplishment
| of that object ] suggest in order TO prevent ac-
ton being taken which may result in hardship in
any CaSe, that thirty days notice BIZ given by pub
hcatioH in some leading newspaper in the locality
of these respective roads notifying their inanag-
ers of the pnrpo-s of this department in order
that they may show ''auSe VI they can. by
tain day to he fixed in such notice, why the prop
Cpsitiou therein submitted should not he red in,
| to execution Steps will he taken in reference to
| the indemnity lands OF the other land grant rail-
roads with she view to the restoration of these
lands to settlement tallowing given and reason
able time 10 make their s.4l..tonSi soon as the
| department l. in poss,,sSun of such information
| as will enable II to aCf nteiligently in making al
lowance to said companies of indemnity lands in
| lieu Of those lost
| Hitherto as rule tile secretary of the interior
has acted by virtue Of his authority, in those
in which the statute directs the performance
of the duty by the president in terms; the courts
! having held that in such cases the act would be
presumed to have been done under thu president s
| direction But in view OF the importance of the
action herein proposed to be taken in the exercise
| of authority granted to you submit the matter
| for your consideration Very respectfully,
| L. Q. C. LAMAR, Secretary.
1